Tools I designed for Windows Mobile phones, especially for htc series pocket pc phones.

Monday, August 03, 2009

LCMinutes 1.55 Is Out

It has been a really long time since my last update, and I am really sorry for not having answered many comments and/or emails left by some users.

But finally I take some time to fix a long over due bug: double counting of SMS sent out when a threaded SMS application is used. If you have this issue, check the download link on the right to see whether it works for you.

And thanks Jeffc for helping me in solving this issue. I hope this will help other users with this issue.

106 comments:

This is great! However I do not really understand how to use it. I do need help from you.

My plan cost 35€ / month:• 120 minutes from Monday till Friday (except holidays) from 8 am till 6 pm (these minutes are reportables next month),• 120 minutes from Monday till Friday from 6 pm till 8 am the next day and the weekend from Friday 6 pm till Monday 8 am (these minutes are not reportables next month),• In these minutes are included:o all calls with 10 digits beginning with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 and 06 (except calls beginning with 0590 and 0690)o all calls with 10 digits beginning with 0800 and 09o all calls with 4 digits beginning with 30 and 31• If the 120 minutes “WeekDay” and/or the 120 minutes “WeekEnd” are consummed and for all calls excluded, the calls are charged 0,38€ / min (invoicing by second from the first second). Except for calls beginning with 0590 and 0690, the calls are charged 0,38€ / min (invoicing by second from the first minute)• 10 SMS a month. Then by SMS:o During the week between 10 pm to 8 am the next day (except weekend and holidays): 0,10€ / sending / addressee.o The rest of the time:0,15€ / sending / addressee• Data: 0,50€ / session within the limits of 2 Mo then 1€ / Mo supplementary

And my plan change on the 24th. Will the program auto refresh after the Charged day is pass? How the balance is uptated?I think that is everything.

congratulations for you work, it´s very helpful.Sorry for my English, i hope i make miself understand.

I did all configurations and was working until now. the problem should be in sms string.My plan is:-no free sms and no free minutes.-same rate for all days.Weekday:1-7-free call´s for certain numbers conected to the campany0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0x0000:(number),(number),(number)....;-0,06€ for one network in first minute and after 1st minute by second0.001/0.001/0.001/0.0/0.06/0.0/0.0/1/60/60/0x000:92,96,12030;-and 0.12 for all other networks in first minute and after 1st minute by second0.002/0.002/0.002/0.0/0.12/0.0/0.0/1/60/60/0x0000:;

The problem is on sms rate, in weekdays the coste on report is 0.05€(tax included) and today, weekend on repot is charged 0.07€ (tax includ)for the same number network 96......the strings i configured for sms are:-0.04/0.04/0.04/0.0/0/0/0x0100:96,92;and -0.06/0.06/0.06/0.0/0/0/0x0100:;

In LCMinutes a week is defined as 0-6, and it does not support different weekday definitions for phone call and SMS. Because you have different rates for SMS in weekday and weekend, so you will need to define your weekday as 1-5.

And for your SMS rates string, your share flag should be 0x0000 instead of 0x0100.

For me it is not a problem if LCMinutes doesn't support different evening definition for phone calls and sms : I will use the same definition.

When I mentioned 120 weekday minutes is reportable in next month, it means my unused minutes will be added to the 120 free minutes of next month. Do I have to change something or to select rollover for my weekday minutes is enough?

To understand very well : how do you calculate the 0.00513 in the call rates?

Actually I am not sure how I get the 0.00513, it should be 0.0063 (0.38 / 60). But I would suggest you set your charge interval from 1 second to 3 seconds, and thus use rates 0.019 instead of 0.0063, in this way for a long call the charge will be more accurate.

And for your 120 weekday minutes, I call it "rollover", you just need to check rollover for your weekday minutes so any of your unused weekend minutes can rollover to next month.

Hi Lyon, your program is great.I just need help with Configuration. Can you help me?

I have an EPlus contract with 500 units (SMS, or minutes - one unit is a sms or 60seconds call.), called AllIn. The timing for calls is 60/1 seconds. Additionally, I have an Internet fairrate, which is slower above 250MB. Incoming SMS and calls are free.

Hi Lyon great program first of all. I have an Htc Hd and LCminutes doesen't calculate SMS. In the balance It always write 0 SMS although i write lots of Sms. Maybe i wrote wrong settings?Can you Help me? Thank you

Hi. Thanx for great app. I think i finally made it work, but just in case, Id like your advice.My plan is:-300 free minutes for numbers with 064 and 065 prefix (my operator), -no free minutes for other operators (062,063,066..). -300 free sms for all operators. -In all outgoing calls first minute is charge (1minute is charge interval) and after that charge interval is 1sec. Outgoing charge fee is 2.9$ but is charged only when there is no free minutes, and ouvcorse is always charge for those other numbers (063,066)..

Guess not, since it is charging me for every call i start whether it was on my network or to any other networks..and i cant seem too make charge all calls bellow 1minute as if they lastet whole 60sec. And as i said my operator is rounding that first minute. help would be much appreciated. Thanx :)

Hi, Milos, unfortunately LCMinutes does not support per call charge (the $2.9 for outgoing calls) only after free minutes are used, in other words, per call charge for outgoing calls will always apply.

Hi, Boris, you will need a registry editor to do the job, just search LCMinutes and check the available settings there.

Did I atleast got my strings right? Sms counting is working, but minutes counter is not. As I mentioned before, I have free minutes only on my network (064,065 nubers) and none on other networks..and there is first minute charge whether i talk the whole minute or not (outgoing calls only). My string are posted up there. Please correct them if and when you have tam L.Thanks alot! ;)

I'm trying to set it up and I got my call rate working. I know you have define the sms call string so I'll do that later. What I want to ask is how do I setup the data cost? My data cost me 0.015 per MB and each session is round to the nearly KB and charged there of. How would I do this?

This is a really great app! Thanks for the time you spent on it. I was trying to set up my plan, but I hit a snag and I think that it's because the plan I'm on is very different from the standard plans.

I'm in South Africa, on the MTN cellular network, and the plan I'm on is called AnyTime 350. It works thus:My monthly subscription is charged at R387.50. Included in this is R350 free to be used for calls, data, etc and 50 free SMSs.

The term In-Bundle rates refers to the rates charged while the R350 is not finished. In-bundle rates are R1.95 per min for local calls to any network or landline, and R2.00 per Mb for data.

Thanks for the response.It's a pity... I was looking forward to using this great app, and sharing it with others. But most cellular companies in South Africa are either on, or moving toward this type of plan.

Hi LyonPlus. Thank you for this program it's really good. It has more configurable options than other commercial progs. However I have a problem: the minutes and the text messages are not counted. The today screen always shows 0 (zero)for today minutes and for total weekday minutes. I tried to restart my device a couple of times, looked to the xml config file and it seems ok, I'm quite sure the config is right. Do you have any idea on how to debug that?Thanks,

Hi Lyon, can u please give me an answer to my question - without an answer i cannot use the programm unfortionatly.

September 14, 2009 7:49 AM

"Hi Lyon, your program is great.I just need help with Configuration. Can you help me?

I have an EPlus contract with 500 units (SMS, or minutes - one unit is a sms or 60seconds call.), called AllIn. The timing for calls is 60/1 seconds. Additionally, I have an Internet fairrate, which is slower above 250MB. Incoming SMS and calls are free.

For the balance, the effective date means the date your balance value is, and the expire date is the date your balance will expire. For example, as of 2009-11-11, you have 100 free minutes, 100 free sms, and they will expire after 2009-12-05, then the effective date is 209-11-11, and the expire date is 2009-12-05. If your plan have no expire date for your balance, then you don't need to set this value, but you need to check rollover in your rate plan to indicate that.

I agree with everyone here, this app is fantastic..thx.On the 9th Oct I posted a request for help, for both myself & 'Bolla50'. Seems we have the same issue the SMS count remains at 0(zero)no matter how many msgs we send. Co-incidentally we both use a HTC win mobile pda. Lyons do u have any idea? Thanks in advance

My rate plan:Restart every 5th of the monthI pay 10,50€ to have the phone access (no free minutes) and 10Mb of data.- Phone (all the time) : 0.30€ per minute, the 1st minute is always charged (even if i make a 10 seconds call, i will be charged for 1 minute...), then after the 1st minute, the phone call is charged second by second.I have got free numbers : 888 and #123# (services numbers)- SMS : 0.15€ per SMS every time- DATA : 5 MB free, with round counter of 10KB, and 0.15€ per 10 KB more.

As you see, it's not that difficult to tell... but very to code ! ;)

I have tried many solutions, but no informations of data SMS or phone charges is displayed (i've imported data from history with the built-in tool to check... Results are bad...)

May you help, please ?

Thanks in advance for such a great tool !

PS : I often performs French translations for PPC softs, freeware and others (CryptoCard, SKTools, SBSH products like PocketBrezee, PocketWeather and PhoneWeaver, etc...) : So, if you want this tool translated, i'm willing to help to make the translation !

Hello,what a great application, but i hace a problem with the settingsWould you help me ?My plan cost 37,90€ / month - My plan change on the 13th• 120 minutes from Monday till Friday from 0 am till 6 pm (these minutes are reportables next month),• 120 minutes from Monday till Friday from 6 pm till 0 am and the weekend from Saturday 0 am till Monday 0 am (these minutes are not reportables next month),• In these minutes are included all calls with 11 digits beginning with +331, +332, +333, +334, +335, +336, +339• If the 120 minutes “WeekDay” and/or the 120 minutes “WeekEnd” are consummed and for all calls excluded, the calls are charged 0,36€ / min (invoicing by second from the first second). Except for call +33660660001 witch is always free• Free sms• Free Data

Hi, I am rom India. This software is really is really useful. I am able to set the traffic plan with this software. I have a different traffic plan when i am Roaming inside or ouside the country. How do is set traffic plan for this case?

I really don't know how to setup the Rate plan.I also read the FAQ but couldn't find the answer.

Every 4th of the month i get- 200 minutes (can be used 24/7)- 100 Sms (can be used 24/7)after the 200 minutes i have to pay €0,25 per minute.Doesn't matter if its a weekday or weekend or evening.This is also with the sms,i have to pay €0,25 for each sms over my 100 limit.

Hello Lyon, thank you very much for this grat app. I was using that for years but now I changed my device and cant find codes for today screen display to tailor the plugin? I was looking for it for it must have been somewhere but unsuccessfuly.Thank you very much again

I use your prog since 1.44 and I'm very happy with it. Thanks for your work!

Now I changed my contract from postpaid to prepaid and I have to readjust your tool for. So I have a litte problem with a special rates string. I can call one number cheaper than the others (0.05 instead of 0.15; no special weekend/evening). So I put this in the box: 01796611166:0:0.05/0.0/0.0/-50:1:0.15/0.0;

But it doesn't work. Can you help me please?

By the way: What effects the -50? And why you used colons for this string, no slashes?

Plan Type: PrepaidWeekday: 0-6Evening: 00-00Free Calls: checked free incoming call//if you have free incoming callsCall Rates: 0.08/0.0/0.0/-50/0.0/0.0/0.0/60/0/0/0x0000:;: checked use start rates only// if, for exemple: when you start to call at 17:59 on monday, you have to pay like weekday also for minutes after 18 o'clockSMS: checked free incoming SMS// if incoming SMS are freeSMS Rates: 0.15/0.0/0.0/-50/0/0/0x0000:;Data Limit: 0 KB:€ 0.09 for every extra: 1024 KB// maybe your provider sets 1MB as 1000KB, then change it to 1000 instead of 1024:€ 0.0 for every: 0 seconds

When you charge your account, just go in to "Settings" -> "Balance" -> push "Edit" and add the amount you bought to balance. For example: if your current balance is 1,24 and you bought a 10-EUR-card, just add 10 to the amount and so type in 11,24.

Can someone help me?I have a postpaid plan, which costs me 937,5 HUF in every month.Every 60 seconds (anywhere, anytime) cost me 21.375 HUF, but it counts seconds. 1 SMS costs: 18.75 HUFAnd I have an option, that I can call my wife for free anytime.How should I set up, to work correctly?

Sorry, for not having replied any questions here recently. Really busy now.

And Philipp: thanks for helping others out!

Janiszka:Assume your wife's number is 123456789, you call rates string should be:0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/1/0/0/0x0000:123456789;0.35625/0.0/0.0/-50/0.0/0.0/0.0/1/0/0/0x0000:;And you SMS rates string should be:18.75/0.0/0.0/-50/0/0/0x0000:;

Hi, congratulations for this useful app. In Spain, where we have a strong economic crisis your app is indispensable;)

Well... I tried to configure my POSTPAID plan, but i am not able to set up it.

I have a postpaid plan, with a minimal consumption of 9€ per month (if I expend less y pay 9€; if i expend more, for example 14 €, i pay 14 €). This cuestion is not important for me, I'm more interested to configurate the rest of the plan:

Without hours distinctionWithout days distinction

- CALLS Free incoming calls Outgoing calls rates: Call establishment (whenever the other person pick up the phone): 0.15 € Then: Calls to number 954954954: 0.199€ the first minute, and then 90 minutes free Calls to other numbers: 0.199€/min

Friedenand: sorry, there's no way for LCMinutes to know which phone share the same operator with your number, especially considering the phone number portability. But you do have a solution: you can export your plan, change it with whatever plain text editor, and then import it again.

Where do I enter the numbers I can call for free? Like I said, I don't see the multiline edit box you mention in the FAQ. I tried entering them in the "Special Rated" box, but the string I used didn't work.[91254830:0:0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0:30:0.30/0.15]

May I ask you how to do the setup for the following price plan (orange optima pro Switzerland):-free landline calls during extended business hours (MO-SA 7-19)-same network and other mobile networks (code +41 76 - +41 79) are charged 0.45 all the time-evening and weekend calls to landline numbers (all codes except the mobile ones +41 76/77/78/79) are 0.45 per minute-0.15 per SMS-an MB of data is 8.00 (circa 0.008/Kb)

BTW: Prices are in Swiss Francs - It's bloody expensive for a subscription costing CHF 25 a month no free minutes or other freebies included!

May I ask you how to do the setup for the following price plan (orange optima pro Switzerland):-free landline calls during extended business hours (MO-SA 7-19)-same network and other mobile networks (code +41 76 - +41 79) are charged 0.45 all the time-evening and weekend calls to landline numbers (all codes except the mobile ones +41 76/77/78/79) are 0.45 per minute-0.15 per SMS-an MB of data is 8.00 (circa 0.008/Kb)

BTW: Prices are in Swiss Francs - It's bloody expensive for a subscription costing CHF 25 a month no free minutes or other freebies included!

I am using HTC phone with WM6. I installed the program but it cannot calculate the min or sms usage right. Also, I cant set the date in the "balance" page correctly. It goes back to 2009-xx-xx when i set it.My plan is "no weekend or evening plan" and it starts on 9th of every month.I have 1200 free mins and it roundup every call to the nearest min. I have unlimited SMS.How should i setup?

I have a prepaid plan through Page Plus Cellular. For $29.95, I get 1200 domestic voice minutes, 1200 dometic text and multimedia messages, and 50 megabytes of data transfer. Plan started on 07-21-2010. Overage charges are $0.12 per minute over 1,200 in one month; $0.10 per MMS over 1,200 in one month; $0.15 per text message over 1,200 in one month; and $0.60 MB (or $0.0006 per KB) over 50MB in one month. I have separate charges for calls outside the USA, i.e. calls to Mexico $0.49 per minute. What should my rates be? Also, I cannot change the effective date and expiration date for my balance.

To modify your balance with date info, first export your balance to a file, then modify that file and them import it.

And unfortunately LCMinutes is unable to track MMS usage.

Otherwise, you can set your month start date as 21, your free minutes for weekday as 1200, free SMS for weekday as 1200. And use following call rates string:0.12/0.0/0.0/-50/0.0/0.0/0.0/60/0/0/0x0001:;

For Mexican calls, use special call rates string:0.49/0.0/0.0/-50/0.0/0.0/0.0/60/0/0/0x0000:0052,+52;

Hi Lyon, I am trying out your program. Its a bit complicated to setup, but its becoming quit clear now.

I have a few questions, maby you can answer them:

My bundle includes sms and minutes (not sepperatly). I have 280 of 280 sms. So when i send an sms my free minutes also decreases.Is it possible to set this up in lcminutes and how should i do it?

IS there a way to filter out de incomming calls from the screen so i only see the incomming (paid) ones?

My minutes counter now tels me it have used 3 minutes. Thats correct but because some calls are shorter then a minute, i have to pay for 6 minutes. The counter doesnt show that. Is there a way to change that of is ther another way to see for howmany minutes i am charged?

Yes you can share free minutes and SMS, notice the / in the SMS rates string. Let's say 3 out sms will consume you one minute, and incoming sms is free, then you should put something like following in your sms rates string, assuming you have no evening time, no weekend, and extra SMS is $0.5:0.5/0.0/0.0/0.0/20/0/0x0001:;

Unfortunately there's no way to filter out free incoming calls.

LCMinutes will round up to the charging unit, let's say you are charged by minute, then 61 second will get you 2 minutes. You just need to set the correct value for the seconds per charge value for your call rates string.

Hi Thanks for your answer.I now understand how to share sms and minutes.

Maby you can help me with my call rate and sms rate.

Call:I pay my call per second, with a minimum of a minut. My rate is 7ct a minuteso if my call is than 10 seconds i pay 7ct, if my call is 70 seconds i pay 7ct + ((7/60)*10).How should the call rate looks like?I have a fixed rate for all day (no evening of weekend rates)

My sms also is a minute (7ct)i think my sms rate should be:0.7/0.0/0.0/0.0/1/0/0x0001:;is this correct?

0.075/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.16/0.0/30/0.0.0/0x0008:phone numberit would meansafter free weekday extra minutes available only for this number0,16 euro on connect then 0.15 euro minutes (ticked in 30 sec clusters)

for SMS I spend 0,15 euro for every SMS sent, free for incoming0.15/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/0.0/Is it correct?I wrote my plan in the post above.

Lyon, are you creating any updates to your software. I love the information it tracks but would like to see something for WM 6.5 or using the HTC Sense UI. Hope we'll see more great updates from you!!!

I have a 29€/month plan, that includes 300 minutes for numbers starting with 6 and 300 minutes for numbers starting with 9, any weekday, any time, no fee for conection, but you can't make calls to more than 150 different numbers each month.

When you exceed one of them (300 minutes on 6, 300 on 9 or more than 150 different numbers), the fee is 0,15€ for conection and 0,15€/min (paid by seconds). Any weekday, any time, any number.

Hello, your program is great.I Have just one problem using data connection:I have 500mb free every month, the plan is correctly setted and he counter in Display (71) work well during connection. But when I close my connection, the counter resets itself and the display is 0Thanks

Hello,Many Thanks for you big application.Its worderfull!!!.I need help for set my plan.

My plan cost 19,90 € /month- 10 minutes /day free . The day minutes not used not combined to nexts days.- If the 10 minutes / day are consumed, the calls are charged with 0,18 € / min with a call setup of 0,15 €.- Dont free SMS. Cost 0,15 € for SMS.- Data: 1 € /session within limit 10 MB.After billing for blocks 10 MB to 1 € with a max of 10€ for day

I don't care about the rate plan. I'm using LCMinutes just to capture my data usage as I'm on an unlimited plan and as I will probably soon be moving to a metered plan I want to know how much I should buy. I don't understand all of what LCMinutes is showing me about my usage. For example this entry:

11-07-07 14:57:26 18:04:0676.67.xxx.xxx:(36801866, 2433057)b

So first line is obviously the date and time of this snapshot.

First element is (masked by me) IP address.

The numbers in brackets is obviously bytes but this isn't (DOWN, UP), right? I couldn't have downloaded 36GB on my little smartphone. I only watched max 2hrs of Youtube, plus email, some web browsing etc. Can someone help me explain these numbers please? Thanks. d.v.

Ok. Looking at this again. Those are bytes not KB so it's much less usage. I installed this on June 8 and haven't had it running (at least not in the foreground) all the time. For most days there are entries. Some series of days it looks like all the numbers in the brackets are accumulating. But then sometimes they seem to start again seemingly from zero. What I want to do is take two dates: Let's say June 8 and July 8, and calculate how much data I've downloaded/uploaded. Have I lost data by not running the application all the time? Did it continue to run after any phone reboot and quietly keep track of my usage? Sorry for noob questions. Thank you.

Hello lyon:Congratulations for your program can be very useful. In my case I do not get it to work properly.

My rate is a fixed cost of 55 euros plus VAT. Includes phone, cable TV and internet connection. The phone has 500 free minutes to any day of the week, time and company, no connection charges. After charged at 0.15 per cent and 0.18 per minute connection without slots. I have checked the following options. Free SMS, I think 1000.